RECENT OBITUARIES.

Evening Star, Issue 11657, 18 September 1901, Page 8

RECENT OBITUARIES.

REFERENCES IN PARLIAMENT. [From Our PABixunutTAßY Rkportbk.] WELLINGTON, September 18. Parliament is establishing records this session.' The latest instance occurred yesterday, when the House of Representatives was called on to pass two resolutions of condolence regarding former members, in addition to expressing its sympathy with the American nation on the assassination of its President. THE LATH PRESIDENT M'KINLEY. In the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon the Premier moved—-"That a respectful address be presented to His Excellency the Governor, requesting His Excellency to convey to His Majesty's principal Secretary of State fcr the Colonies, for presentation to the United States of America, the following resolution—namely:— I That the House of Representatives of New Zealand, in Parliament assembled, expresses its sorrow at the sad and melancholy death of the President of the United States of America, Mr William M'Kinley, and sincerely sympathises with the people of the United States, and offers heartfelt condolence with Mr M'Kinley and the relatives of the late President, and joins with the Englishspeaking people throughout, the world in deploring the calamity that by his demise has eventuated.' : ' Speaking to the resolution, he said that only last week, when regret was expressed by the Houso at tho dastardly attempt to .assassinate Mr M'Kinley, there was a feeling that be would recover. Such, however, was not to be the case. Death had intervened, and the United States and the civilised world were heavy losers indeed by the late President's death. A lesson had been taught, and it. was to bo hoped that it might be the means of rendering impossible the association of sects for the purpose of. assassination. Whether as a soldier, financier, or statesman. Mr M'Kinley's life was an example. His services in <wnnection with the settlement of Cuba, the Philippines, and Hawaii were extolled, as was the devotion of his widow. Mr Masscy, in seconding the resolution, said that though the forms of government in the United States and England might differ, tho Earn? Wood ran through tho veins of both peoples. The United States had had many able Presidents, but the name of William M'Kinley would not only be remembered by the American people, but those of the world, as a Christian gentleman and an able ruler. The motion was carried in silence, without further discussion. The Premier said that the late President's funeral was to take plarc on Thursday afternoon, and he proposed to adjourn Parliament from 3 till 4 p.m. As to holding a memorial service in front of the Parliamentary Buildings, as had been suggested, that was * matter for the churches to decide. TWO EX-OTAGO MEMBERS. In moving—" That this House desires to place on record its regret at the death of the. late Mr M. J. S. Mackenzie, and appreciation of his services as a member of the House of Representatives, and tenders lo Mrs Mackenzie and the members of his family its sincere sympathy and condolence,'' the Premier said : I am sure that the members present, will join with me in expressing unfricued roi'iet at the death of our late rcnirriijf. When I look across to the place where lie sat. and which will know him no more, and think that he was there only a short time ago, r.nd to think that he had only arrived at mature manhood, and then lo know that he has gone for ever—that he has passed away—it makes oue feel sad in the extreme. As one who has had many a wordy tilt with him who has departed, I can only look hack now, and I feel pleased . that whatever may have been our differences of opinion, yet. no personal ill-fechngs remain. He was a man possessed of considerable ability, of great devotion to his district and to the colony; and that ability certainly was placed unreservedly at the service of his fellow-colonists. I therefore regret that- he has been called away. Whether as a member of Parliament, or as a journalist, or as a colonist, we must all regret • his death. One and all, we deplore that he should have been taken away, as I have said, in the prime of manhood. But we can to some extent assuage the grief of the bereaved ones by tendering them our heartfelt sympathy ami condolence. We shall miss the services of Mr Scobie Mackenzie, as the colony has missed them for some time past. Sir, I shall ever recollect that goodnatured banter of his and his keen sarcasm. However, even among those from whom hj? differed he was much liked, and one and all, I am sure, regretted to hear of his death. They will join with mo in carrying this resolution, and tendering to his widow and family our heartfelt sympathy and condolence. I move the motion. Mr Jas. Allen: Sir, I suppose that Mr Scobie Mackenzie was best known to us as a member of Parliament, and I do not suppose that any member of Parliament, who was here when Scobie was in the House, can forget those occasions on which he was wont to make what was considered at the time a great speech. He used to hit hard, but he always hit hard in the face. The Right Hon. the Premier said he used sarcasm. Perhaps he did. I rather think the word that expresses more adequately what he used is raillery. He was humorous and he was witty. His speeches told in the House, but where they did tell with most effect was on the public platform. Sir, though he did hit hard in the House, there was no man I ever came across who was so generous to his opponents outside the House. I know that in our own counsels, in our own discussions privately, and in our talks about individuals opposed to us in politics, there never was a. man who was more generous than he was, and it seemed only natural to him to pick out, not that which was bad in his opponent, but that which was good: and invariably from Scobie Mackenzie in our talks came remarks most, favorable to any man who was opposed to bim. Sir, he was a literary man in two aspects. He was literary in the sense that he loved literature and loved reading for its own sake: and he got all the benefit that could be derived from reading. He read with care: he collated what was worth collating of that which he did read, and I do not know that. I can express more clearly what his attitude towards literature was than by quoting from one of his own favorite authors:—"l have sent books and music there, and all those instruments with which high spirits call the future from its cradle and the past out of its grave, and make the present last in thought and joys, which sleep hut cannot.die folded within their own eternity." Of his work as a literary man I will say nothing to-day. I leave it for history to say of what value it may be. Those who knew him other than in the Houso of Representatives knew him to be a man of character that was most invaluable. His social life and his home life formed a picture one could dwell upon with delight and joy. I know of no man, either at the dinner table or in the whips' room or lobby or in any other place of conversation, who was more pleasing to bsten to, or who was so witty and humorous fts Scobie Mackenzie. Sir, in his own home life I never came across a man who had exactly the same attitude towards his wife and children as Scobie Mackenzie had. I could not call it the aspect of father to child: 'twas more like brother to brother or sister. It was one of the most astonishing things to me (and, I believe to those who knew him) that attitude of his, particularly towards his children. He has gone. I am quite sure the House and country will grieve over the loss of a politician and literary man. I am quite sure that ha was a man who had to a considerable extent made his mark in politics. He was a man who could enjoy life. Ho was a. man of deep. feeling. He was a man of knowledge, and I am pleased to say that he was a man of reasonable fear. Sir, I will end what I have to say by quoting again from the same author, of whom ho was so fond—- " Death has set his mark and seal On all we are and all we feel, On all we know and all we fear. First our pleasures dio and then Our hopes, and then our fears; and when These are dead the debt is due: Dnst claims dust—and we die, too." Mr Millar: I would just like to say a word or two on the present occasion, as the late Scobie Mackenzie and myself were brother representatives for the City of Dunedin durVJ g i h \ last Parliament. By tho death of Mr bcobic Mackenzie Dunedin has received a blow, and his loss will be hard to fill from a public point of view. During the three years that we sat together here, although opposed on every public question, the hon. gentleman was the soul of honor in every respect. He never at any time, although a strong party man, tried to further his party at the expense of the party which I represent; and upon all occasions he was wnat you might call strictly fair and impartial m all his actions. Of a genial disposition, he was one who soon made friends with those with whom he came in contact, and (am confident that I am .expressine the opinion ot my present colleagues when I express our heartfelt sympathy with Mrs Mackenzie and family in the irreparable loss we have all sustained. Mr J. W. Thomson said that by a singular coincidence a former member of the House (Mr A. .T.Burns) had died on Sunday—the same, morning as Mr Scobie Mackenzie had died. Mr Burns always took a keen, interest 'in

all public matters. He was a man of maritime habits, and was a strong advocate for erecting a lighthouse on the Snares, a work not yet undertaken. Mr Fisher spoke of Mr Mackenzie as one of the literary ornaments of the Houso, a quality, he said' with regret, which was fast disappearing from the debates which were taking place in that Chamber. The Premier: I had.intended later on to have referred to the late Mr Arthur Burns. It is. a strange and sad coincidence that he and the late Mr Mackenzie should have passed away on Sunday last. As reference has already been made to this, I think now is an opportune time for speaking in regard to those who have taken their part in the past history of the colony, and practically laying the foundations upon which tho country has progressed—that when their end comes, although they have been for_ some years away from our political life, their services should not be forgotten. lam pleased that tho hon. member for Clutha has mentioned this matter to-day. The worthy son of a worthy and esteemed father, the late Mr Burns" really did excellent work. The connection of his name with the woollen industry of this colony should stand out in bold relief. He was never self-seekiug—-quite the reverse—and as such was respected by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. It is only a short time ago that I received from him a very nice letter indeed, and it will be, I think, some consolation to the children who are left to mourn the loss of so good a parent to know that, at all events, their worthy father had not been forgotten. His son. Surgeon-colonel Burns, is fighting our battles in South Africa, and that the name of his father should be mentioned would to some extent soften the blow that has fallen upon him. lam pleased that, the resolution dealing with the late Mr Mackenzie should have been chosen as a fitting time to mention the name of the late Mr Bums. The resolution was then put and carried. The Premier announced that he had received a telegram on entering the House announcing the deatb of Colonel William Fraser, the Sergeant-at-.Arms. In moving the following resolution—"That tho House places on record its regret at the death of the late Colonel William Fraser, and its appreciation of his services as a member of the House of Representatives, and tenders .to Mrs Fraser its sincere, sympathy and condolence," Mr Seddon said the genial old colonel was good-natured and generous in atl his actions. When rti'sfortunc befell the party's late, respected Leader some years ago Colonel Fraser was the man who came forward and offered to resign his seat in the House, in order that bis chief might be reelected. There was no warden and no member of Parliament who knew more in respect to goldfields matters than the late colonel. He had first fought the colony's battles in the Maori War; he had risen to the rank of colonel: and one and all would' admit that he was a brave soldier. As the genial member for the Thames, and later as Ser-geant-at-Arms, members would miss him, and would regret to hear that Mrs Fraser had boon practically confined to a bed of sickness for a considerable time, owing to an unfortunate accident she met with some three sessions ago. Mr Herries, in seconding tho resolution, testified to the respect in which the late colonel was held by his old constituents, who informed him (Mr Herries) that at no time had they ever had a better representative. He was one of the best-known and popular men on the Thames. . The Hon. J. M'Gownn said Colonel Fraser would be greatly missed in the district he had lived in, and been so well known for so long. Personally, he had always known him to be respected and admired by all whom he camo in contact with. For years he had filled the mayoral chair at the Thames, and the people of that place admired him so much that they were pleased to have him in the position though his duties called him to Wellington for a considerable portion of the year. Mr Fisher stated that he first met Colonel Fraser in 1857, when he was known as the " fearless and dauntless Bill Fraser," and had seen him pass through his whole career and end it in such an honorable way. There was never an occasion on which ari appeal was made to his manliness and loyalty on behalf of his party that it was not given to the fullest extent. Mr Lawry also spoke eulogisticaliy of the late Colonel Fraser's career. The motion was also carried in silence.